Chapter 27 #2
“I will. See ya.” She walks off, yanking down her mini skirt, which rides up every time she moves.
“Hey,” a deep voice says. I feel his breath by my ear and his hands around my waist.
I look back, and my heart takes off, filled with joy just seeing him there. I turn and kiss him. “You’re right on time.”
“Let’s get out of here. My car’s over there.” He points to it.
“What do you want to do?”
“I don’t care. I just want to be with you.” He kisses me, his arms pulling me closer.
“Rumor?”
I hear my name and immediately know who said it.
It’s Kade. What is he doing at a Legion party?
“Go!” I whisper to Jackson. “Hurry up!”
“Novak,” I hear Miles say.
Jackson lets go of me and turns to face Miles. “What the fuck you doing here?” He glances at Kade, who’s just behind Miles. “Didn’t you learn anything last time you fuckers showed up at a Legion party?”
“You think I’m afraid of you?” Miles says, stepping up to Jackson.
“You should be, you little fucker.” Jackson stands up straighter, sticking his chest out. “I bench more than you weigh. You’re messing with the wrong fucking guy.”
Miles looks at Jackson, noticing how huge he is, and glances away, like he’s reassessing his decision to fight him.
“Change your mind?” Jackson asks with a laugh.
Miles folds his arms over his chest. “What are you doing with Halliway?”
Jackson’s in front of me, blocking me from them.
“What do you think?” Jackson says.
“Halliway!” Kade yells, coming up beside Miles. “Stop fucking hiding and tell us what’s going on.”
“She doesn’t have to do anything,” Jackson says. “And if you order her around again, your face will be planted on the fucking ground.” He steps up to Miles and Kade. “Get the fuck out of here.”
They’re both shorter than him and smaller. They look big at school, but next to Jackson, they look tiny.
“Braden’s going to kick your ass,” Kade says.
Jackson just laughs.
“Let’s go,” Miles mutters to Kade.
They walk off, Jackson and I watching to make sure they get back in their car. They take off, speeding down the road.
“They’re going to tell Braden,” I say. “And everyone else. What are we going to do?”
“Nothing,” Jackson says, putting his arm around me. “We knew this would happen. We just didn’t know when.”
I turn to him. “Why aren’t you freaking out about this?”
“Because I don’t give a shit if Braden knows. He doesn’t get to decide who you date. Neither does Brock.”
“Yeah, but they’ll do everything possible to keep us apart.”
“They won’t.” He leans down and kisses me. “It’ll all work out. I promise.”
“How can you be so calm about this? When Brock finds out, he’s going to ban me from seeing you.”
Jackson takes my hand. “Let’s get out of here. You want to go get something to eat?”
“Jackson, I can’t.” I yank my hand back. “I can’t go out and pretend nothing happened. I’m freaking out here!”
“So what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.” I take a breath, trying to calm myself.
He turns me toward him. “Nothing’s going to happen until tomorrow. Braden will be out all night. He won’t even tell his dad until morning.”
“I guess you’re right. So what do you want to do?”
“We’ll drive down to San Diego. We’re not going to run into anyone there. We’ll get dinner and then maybe see a movie.”
“Like an actual date?” I smile.
“We’re going to have more of those now that we don’t have to hide.” He takes my hand and starts walking to the car.
“I don’t know about that. When Braden finds out—”
“Stop worrying about Braden. He’s not going to do anything.”
“But Brock will. And what about our plan? Braden’s not going to let me sit at his table anymore. How am I supposed to spy on the team? He’ll tell all his football friends not to talk to me.”
“I’m not worried about that.” Jackson smirks. “They almost lost tonight’s game, and three of their best players have already had injuries. With their season starting this bad, they’re not going to make it to State.”
“What about Twisted Pine?” I say, stopping as we reach the car. “When people find out we’re together, they’re going to make my life hell.”
“They didn’t do anything to Kristen. Everyone knows she left Braden for me.”
“That’s different. She’s the principal’s daughter. She can do whatever she wants.”
He opens my door. “Let’s go. Standing around worrying about what might happen isn’t doing us any good.”
We leave the party and drive down to San Diego for dinner. Afterward, Jackson drives me around and shows me the city.
“What do you think?” he asks, pulling off the road to park.
“It’s good,” I say, gazing out the window.
“What’s good?” he says with a laugh.
“Whatever you were asking about.”
“Rumor.” I feel his hand wrap around mine. “Do you want to just go home?”
I turn to him. “I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to make this night special, but I can’t stop thinking about what might happen. I don’t want to lose you, Jackson.”
“You won’t.” He leans over and gives me a kiss. “You really want me to take you home?”
“I don’t, but I just want to get this over with.”
We drive back to La Jolla. It’s after eleven when we get back to the house. When he goes to pull in Brock’s driveway, I almost stop him, thinking we’re still hiding our relationship. But that secret is out. Now I have to deal with whatever’s going to happen next.
“Call if you need me,” Jackson says. “Or just come down to the house.”
I reach over and hug him. “Bye. Thanks for a great night.”
As I pull away, he keeps hold of me, his eyes going to mine. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
But will he? What if Brock locks me in my room? Or sends me away? I don’t know where he’d send me, but if he’s angry enough, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to get rid of me.
When I get in the house, I stop and listen to see if anyone’s home. I don’t hear anything. I’m sure Braden and Trystan are out at parties. Brock is probably in his room, either asleep or with some woman.
The house is dark except for the dim light from the lamp in the entryway. As I’m walking through the living room, I hear a voice.
“You’re so dead.”